BRASILIA, July 1 — France defeated Nigeria 2-0 with two second-half goals to advance to the quarterfinals of football’s World Cup, where it will meet either Germany or Algeria.

France went ahead following a prolonged stretch of pressure in the second half after Antoine Griezmann replaced Olivier Giroud on attack.

Ten minutes from full time, Paul Pogba headed the Europeans in front and then Joseph Yobo turned the ball into his own goal as Griezmann went by him. France will play in a July 4 quarterfinal against either Germany or Algeria, who play in today’s late match in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

There was “a lot of intensity, a lot of physicality, so we had to be ready for the struggle,” France coach Didier Deschamps told reporters.

“We ended very well. It’s very difficult when you control every aspect from the first to the last minute. We had a really strong last half an hour, with all dynamism, all speed.”

Pogba scored when goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama tried to punch a corner kick but flipped it toward the Frenchman, who headed it into the unoccupied goal.

In injury time, Yobo turned the ball into his own goal with his knee as he, Enyeama and Griezmann came together in the penalty area.

Nigeria’s loss leaves Algeria as the only team from Africa remaining.

France had the best chance of the first half with Pogba hitting his shot right at Enyeama, who pushed it away.

Earlier in the opening half, Emmanuel Emenike put the ball into the net, but was judged to be offside.

Painful Loss

“Any loss is painful, it can be in the first round, even a friendly, when you see your team play good football, do what you ask them to do and then you turn around and lose the game,” Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said.

“I don’t think we deserve to lose the game in this way but this is football and it can happen anytime.”

In the second half, Victor Moses had to clear the ball away from his own goal line after Karim Benzema and Griezmann exchanged passes. Enyeama blocked the shot but it bounded over the goalkeeper and spun toward his net before Moses intervened.

France kept up the pressure, with Yohan Cabaye’s long shot bouncing off the crossbar.

Nigeria Chant

Moments later, Pogba scored.

The crowd in Brasilia was overwhelmingly supporting the African team, chanting “NIGERIA, NIGERIA, NIGERIA,” and booing when France had the ball.

Frenchman Antony Salaun, 28, has lived in Sao Paulo for five years working in finance.

He and his friends have been to all of France’s games so far, dressed in capes and French brigadier hats.

“The organisation and the atmosphere has been sensational, better than anyone in the international or national press expected, especially when you see everyone in costume and the fans singing their national anthems,” Salaun said.

“The World Cup is about more than the football, it’s also about the party and the atmosphere.”

France becomes the fifth team to advance to the quarterfinals, joining host Brazil, Colombia, the Netherlands and Costa Rica.

Tomorrow, Argentina plays Switzerland in Sao Paulo and Belgium meets the U.S. in Salvador.

Other Games

Yesterday, the Netherlands overcame Mexico with two late goals to advance to meet first-time quarterfinalists Costa Rica.

The Dutch got a goal from Wesley Sneijder and a penalty from Klaas Jan Huntelaar in the last few minutes of the second half. Ten-man Costa Rica defeated Greece 5-3 in a penalty shootout to move on after their round-of-16 match was tied 1-1 after 120 minutes of play. The pair will meet July 5 in Salvador.

It was 29º Celsius (84º Fahrenheit) and 68 per cent humidity at the start of the Netherlands-Mexico match, and referee Pedro Proenca took a water break in both halves, the first official rehydration stoppages of the tournament.

The match in Recife went to a penalty shootout, where 10- man Costa Rica made all five, with Keylor Navas’s save of Theofanis Gekas’s attempt making the difference. Costa Rica defender Michael Umana scored the final kick and was mobbed by teammates. — Bloomsberg